January 14, 2025
The National Assembly joint Committee on Livestock Development has described as grossly inadequate the budgetary allocation of N11.8 billion proposed for the take-off of the new Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
The Federal Government, had urged the National Assembly to approve N10 billion as capital expenditure and N1.8 billion as overhead for the ministry in the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
The minister of Livestock Development, Mr Idi Maiha, who led the management staff of the ministry and heads of agencies to defend the budget before the joint committees of the National Assembly, said activities for the smooth take-off of the ministry, which was created three months ago, had started with necessary structures being put together.
He said some departments from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security have been drafted to the new ministry.
He explained that the ministry was yet to have office accommodation, lacked facilities, necessary office and operational equipment to run as a full fledged ministry, hence the ministry is currently being accommodated by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF.
Maiha said his ministry had initiated talks with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to secure adequate office accommodation.
The minister said though the budget might be small, it will provide a roadmap to get the effective take-off of the ministry.
He said the ministry was committed to addressing negative climate change and other environmental challenges.
He also said it would open up avenues for the youth and women to engage in economic activities in the livestock sector.
Haven listened to the budget defence, the joint committee, asked the minister to harmonise adequate financial needs and present it again, in the form of supplementary budget.
The joint committee assured the minister that the National Assembly would ensure its accelerated passage.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Livestock Development, Hon. Wale Raji, supported the need for a supplementary budget, “There will be need for you to make special presentation on this and come up with supplementary budget that will reflect the hope of Nigerians.
“The budget is abysmally low to respond to the yearnings of Nigerians.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Musa Mustapha, said the committees “will try our best to see how we can help the ministry achieve its mandate”.
